Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1887-05-28
CESS.
BY H.NDER HAeeARD,
Euth0rot 'Nrs SolonaoEsaupes ssshSEts.

warm water, where John Mel scrubbed them
with soap, and then transferred to the tin
bath, where Bessie rinsed them and then laid
them ON a sheet in the sun to dry The
morning was very pleasant, and John soon
came to the conclusion that there are
many more disagreeabe occupations in
the world than the washing Of ostrich
feathers with lovely girl to help you; for
there was no doubt but that she was lovely,
very type Of happy, healthy womanhood,
as she sat there opposite to him on the little
stool, her sleeves rolled up almost to the
shoulder, showing pair of arms that would
not have disgraced a statue of Venus, and
laughed and chatted away as she washed the
feathers. Now, John Mel was not a suscepti-
BILE man; he had gone through the fire years
before and burned his fingers like many
another confiding youngster; but, all the
same, he did wonder as he sat there and
watched this fair girl, who somehow reminded
him of a rich rosebud bursting into bloom,
how long it would be possible to live in the
same house with her without falling under
the spell Of her charm and beauty. And
then he began to think of Jess, and what a
strange contrast the two were.
"Where is your sisterr he asked presently.
i
the Lion Kloof, reading or sketchng, don't
know which. You see, in this establishment
represent labor and jess represents intel
lect," and she nodded her head prettily ut
him, and added, "There is a mistake some
where; she got all the brains"
"Ah," said John, quietly, and looking up at
her, II don't think that you are entitled to
complain of the way that nature has treated
you"
She blushed little, more at the tone Of his
voice than the words, and went on hastily:
"Jess Is the dearest, best and cleverest woman
In the whole world--there, believe that she
has only one fault, and that is that she thinks
too much about me- Uncle told me that he
had told you how we came here first when l
was years old. Well, l remember that
when we lost our way on the veldt that
night, and it rained so and was so cold, jess
took Oft her own shawl and wrapped it round
me over my own. Well, it has been just like
that with her always. am always to have
the shawi-everything is to give way to me.
But there, that is jess all over; she is very
cold cold as a stone, | sometimes think, but
when she does care for anybody it is enough
TO frighten one. / don't know a great num-
ber of women, but somehow Il don't think
that there can be many in the world like jess.
She Is too good for this wild place, she ought
to go away TO England, write books and be-
come famous woman, only" she added, re-
fiectively, ~ am afraid that Jess books
would all be sad ones"
Just then Bessie stopped and suddenly
changed color, the bunch Of lank, wet
feathers she held in her hand dropping from
it with little splash back into the bath. Fol-
lowing her glance, John looked down the
avenue of blue gum trees and perceived big
man with broad hat and mounted on a
splendid black horse, cantering leisurely to-
ward the house.
"Who is that, Miss Croft" he asked.
at is a man don't like" she said, with
little stamp OF her foot. "His name is Frank
Muller, aud he is half a Boer and half an
Englishman He is very rich and very
clever, and owns all the land round this place,
SO uncle has to bo civil to him, though he
does not like him either. l wonder what he
wants now"
On came the horse, and John thought that
its rider was going to pass without seeing
them, when suddenly the movement of Bes-
sizes dress between the "naatche" trees caught
his eye, and he pulled up and looked round.
He was a large and exceedingly handsome
man. apparently about 40 years old, with
clear cut features, cold, light blue eyes and
remarkable golden beard that hung right
down over his chest For a Boer he was rather
nnartly dressed, in English made tweed
clothes and tall riding boots
"Ah, Miss Bessie" he called out in English,
athere you are with your pretty arms all bare.
I'm in luck TO come just in time to see them.
Shall come and help you to wash the feath-
ersi Only say the word, now